Any classical music lovers out there? If so, who are your favorite composers?

 

For me, it's Beethoven. I think I've got at least a couple hundred CD's with his breathtaking music. My friends (who don't like classical) think I'm nuts for having multiple performances of the same works.  

 

Haydn is another of the greats.

 

 

Beethoven, of course, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Bach, Holst and Ravel are those I listen to frequently.

I love Beethoven and Mozart,  Hayden and many others classical greats.

I love the piano classical pieces too.

And you are right it is very breathtaking music also the classics on the piano can be calming as well.

When you talk about being nut for having multiple performances, I say no you are not because there will be some difference's either played by different performers or performed on a certain day. Or recorded by someone else.

So no you enjoy and keep on enjoying the classical greats, you are lucky to have  such a collection.

I have just a few on my hard drive but play them loads of times.

And mainly enjoy them when i do.

I also listen to a few pieces from my band in a box for my midi Keyboard.

 

I think the only song I have in different versions is 1812 Ouverture.

I'm a classical music lover from the age of ten years.

 My favourite composers has changed during my life; currently I'm in love with Mozart (particularly operas and piano concertos) but I listen regularly to other composer.

My favourite sub-genre is "Viennese Classical period" (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, ...), but I like very much also ancient music. In this area my favorite performer is Jordi Savall.

 For Fisher: some month ago I was intrigued by an Icelandic contemporary composer, Jon Leifs. Its music quite difficult for me (like much of the contemporary music) but interesting.

I also think that multiple performances are important to better understand  musical works. You are definitely not a nut

 

Fpiantini, that is my favorite period as well. With the exception of Bach, I'd have to say that Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert are unequalled.

 

On the subject of Schubert, isn't it a shame that he couldn't have been given 10 (or even 5) more years of life? His late quartets, last 3 piano sonatas, and last 2 symphonies prove (IMHO, at least) that he would have been the next monumental composer after Beethoven. Even so, he accomplished more in 31 years than most of us could do in 131.

 

Speaking of Jordi Savall, I have a disc of him conducting Beethoven's Eroica Symphony. Absolutely stunning performance.

My very first email address was opus125indminor@excite.com. Yep, I like the 9th. I have multiple versions of the 9th. Different versions of this symphony really stand out because of 4th movement choral. One would have to be tone deaf not to make the clear distinction between two tenor's (or two basso-baritone's for that matter) voices.  One version that I especially like is Gustav Mahler's arrangement (which features double the woodwinds and a couple of tubas) of Beethoven's 9th recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Neeme Jarvi. I also love the Wendy Carlos' version of the 9th from A Clockwork Orange.

 

I like lots of other symphonic music by different composers, but nothing is as transcendent as the glorious 9th.   

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, movement no. 4

 

Here's J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, if you're into that sort of thing 

 

I have Bach's French Suites performed by Glenn Gould, they're lovely. Mendelsohn is one of my favorites, in addition to Beethoven, Mozart and the aforementioned Bach.

 

Btw, does anyone else have the film score to Alexander Nevsky by Prokofiev?

Beeth's 9th and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring are probably my two favorites here.

I like Vivaldi, Barber, Debussy, Gorecki, and Bach. 

Fischer:

I studied piano for like 8 years when I was a bit younger and I am actually a composer of which you could call classical music (or academic). So you bet if I like music...

I am actually a Chopin specialist, so my favorite composer is him. Then it would be Pprokofiev and Rachmaninov.

If you read my blog, I talk about similarities between chess and other forms of art, and I explain why I've chosen to study chess (at my pace, anyway, I'm still a very beginner). Wait... Do I actually explain it...? Well, let me know if I don't, hehe

ivandh wrote:

Btw, does anyone else have the film score to Alexander Nevsky by Prokofiev?

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 I am not sure to have it, but surely I hear it in the past and I seen the film too. Great score for a great film.

I especially liked the "Field of the death" piece. A friend of mine own a CD with that track sung by Irina Arkhipova. Really lyrical and intense, one piece that describe very well the foolishness of war.

 

Ive always appreciated classical music.  I can't say I have any favourite composer tending to listen according to the mood I'm in. ie, For relaxation its applepie Mozart and Haydn etc.  Then sometimes I like some stirring or thought provoking sounds then I'd listen to Shostakovich or Stravinsky.  I guess I like Russian music most of all. I play the french horn for fun during  lunch breaks at work and drive colleagues nuts. haha! so I particularly like the horn concertoes of Strauss, Mozart and Haydn.  There is always something new to hear each day, so for instance I shall have to get Shostakovich's 5th symphony some time having heard it on the radio a couple of days ago. 

 Has anyone seen the Austrailian film 'Shine'? Thats when I heard Rachmaninof's third piano concerto - brilliant.  Then there is of course Wagner and Sigfried's Rhein Journey and Funeral great atmospheric music.  wow, I could go on and on.

last_file wrote:

I also find myself drawn to certain artists.

Andre Segovia, Yoyo Ma, and  Vladimir Horowitz spring to mind.

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Andres Segovia is unbelievable. I remember the first time I heard one of his recordings. I had never thought much of classical guitar, but one day I turned on the radio and someone was playing an arrangement of Beethoven's 5th..........on the guitar! It blew me away. After it was over I learned that it was Segovia, who had immediately changed my perception of the instrument.

 

It annoys me that whenever there's a list of the greatest guitarists, you hear names like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, etc. (and they certainly deserve to be there), but rarely does anyone mention Segovia who is at least their equal.

avdel wrote:Just about anything by Bach!....Elgar arr of Bach's fantasia and fugue!

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Do you like Bach's Partita for Solo Flute? It's so beautifully haunting...

 

The Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin and the Cello Suites are masterpieces as well. (As you can see, I love works for solo instruments)

fischer wrote: avdel wrote:Just about anything by Bach!....Elgar arr of Bach's fantasia and fugue!

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Do you like Bach's Partita for Solo Flute? It's so beautifully haunting...

 

The Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin and the Cello Suites are masterpieces as well. (As you can see, I love works for solo instruments)

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I don't have the partita for solo flute, but I love the partita for solo violin and the Cello Suites are outstanding! my favorite is Orchestral suite no 3 in D major

i love cllasical, ettiene mentioned most of my favs, Sibelius too. beethovens choral symphony 1st movement i love it,it was in a burt lancaster film called soylent green

 the best

I like classical musics much, especially during reading. I like most of composers. Bach, Mozart, Bethoween, Dvorjak... and all Russian composers.. I downloded  many classical mp3 files through internet, over 5 GB.